Step-ladder



2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

C. HOOD. STEP LADDER.l

Patented Feb. 18, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CORNELIUS HOOD, OF BENTON HARBOR,d MICHIGAN.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,695, dated February 18, 1896.

Application filed October 12,1895. Serial No, 565,473. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS HOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Benton Harbor, in the county of Berrien and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Step Ladders, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference bein ghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of` this specification.

My invention relates generally to step-ladders and particularly to certain improvements connected with the rear or brace portion.

The main object of my invention is to construct a step-ladder which'can be firmly supported upon an uneven or inclined surface, and a further obj ect is to provide a brace for the ladder when so supported.

Another object is to provide an improved form of hinge-brace between the front and rear portions or members of the ladder, whereby a stronger joint is secured,l one that will readily lock itself when the sections are spread v apart and one that will readily fold when the sections are folded together.

A still further object is to provide an improved construction of shelf for supporting buckets and the like near the top of the ladder.

The foregoing and such other objects as may occur from the ensuing description are attained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the ladder embodying the adjustable leg feature of my invention, the shelf being omitted. Fig. 2 is a side view illustrating the adjustable leg in a raised position. tudinal section. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4L 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the shelf. Fig. 6 is a section on line G 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detail view of the connection between the xed and adj ustable leg.

In the practical application of my invention I construct a step-ladder with the front or step portion, A, the rear or brace portion, B, and the top shelf or platform O, said rear portion being hinged at c to either the platform or front section, as desired, and these parts may be of the usual or any approved construction.

Fig. 3 is a central longi,

In order to properly hold the rear portion, B, in open position, I provide a hinge-brace D,comprising the rods or bars d d', connected to the Aside members of the front and rear portions respectively and connected at their inner ends by means of cross-strips d2 d3, respectively, said strips being hinged together upon their lower edges by a hinge d4, so that said brace will break and fold upwardly as the front and rear portions are folded together. When the sections are spread apart, as shown in Fig. l, the hinged brace will be folded out flat, the fiat edges of the strips contacting and thus making a secure braceV between the front and rear sections.

yFor the purpose of supporting the ladder i upon inclined or uneven surfaces, I provide adjustable legs E, which are attached to the outer faces of either the front section, A, or

the rear section, B, or both sections, as may to the legs being vertically slidable, they are also laterally movable, so they can be spread out to form a wider base and thus brace the ladder when resting upon inclined or uneven ingly simple, durable and convenient form of step-ladder. It is also desired to employ an improved form of shelf K, which shelf is supported upon a U-shaped bail L, secured at its upper ends to the top of the rear portion or member, B, and if preferred the said bail may be used as the pivotal connection between the front and rear sections of the ladder.

The shelf K is flared at the forward end and provided with a cleat 7c of similar shape, said end fitting into a dovetailed recess k2 in the bottom of the top step, the purpose of such construction being to prevent the tilting or swinging of the shelf, as the peculiar shape IOO of the end litting in the aforesaid recess successfully prevents this.

It Will be understood that I may use all the features set forth in constructing my ladder, or I may use any one or more of them, as desired, all being comprehended in my invention. It will also be evident that the dovetailed construction and arrangement may be altered somewhat Without departing from the broad principles of my invention, which involves a step-ladder constructed to be supported and braced upon uneven surfaces,the central hinge-brace and locking shelf. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure in my Letters Patent isl. In a stepLladder, the front and rear sec-r tions or members, connected as usual, and the vertically-slidable and laterally-adj ustable legs connected to the sides of said ladder, substantially as shown and described.

2. Iii a step-ladder, the front and rear sections or members connected as usual, the vertically-slidable and `laterally-adj ustable legs, andmeans for connecting the same With the rear section or member, substantially as shown and described. A d f 3. In a stepgladder, the front and rear sections connected as usual, the slidable'b'locks, box and set-screw, and the legs attached to said blocks, and adapted to be moved both vertically and laterally, lsubstantially as shown and described.

4. In a step-ladder, the front and rear sections, thef slidable blocks, boxes and setscrevvs, the legs hinged to the blocks, and the brace-links connecting the legs and rear section, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a step-ladder, the front and rear sections, and a central hinge-brace comprising the transverse strips, connecting-hinge and rods connecting the strips and ladder, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a step-ladder, the front and rear sections, the rods connected therewith, the strips connected to the rods, and the hinges connecting said strips, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a step-ladder, the combination of the front and rear sections, the` depending bail, and a shelf supported by said bail and having its forward end secured in a dovetailed recess in the bottomof a step on the front section, substantially as described.

8. Ina step-ladder, the combination of the front and rear sections, a step on the front section provided with a dovetailed recess in the bottom thereof, a depending bail and a shelf supported by said bail and provided with a flared forward end and a cleat secured thereto and adapted to be fitted into said rccess in the step, substantially as and for the purpose described.

CORNELIUS IAIOOD.

Witnesses A. PLUMMER, GEO. M. BELL. 

